Greetings

 
      Principal  Kimiko Horiguchi

      Welcome to the homepage of Gunma Language Centre & Language Academy!
      In 2010, we are celebrating our 20th anniversary. In 1997, the Language Academy was added to the school to offer a wider range of languages such as French, German, Spanish, and Chinese in addition to English. Learning a foreign language is the first step to participating in our increasingly global society, which is made up of many different people whose cultures, histories, religions, and languages are not the same as yours. Many conflicts arise through a lack of understanding between different people, and better communication is key to promoting deeper intercultural understanding. It is part of our mission at GLC and LA to promote such intercultural communication.

       It is important to learn a foreign language and experience cultural diversity when you are young. Young people are often more receptive to other languages and cultures than older people. In addition, young learners generally respond more quickly to the foreign sounds and structures of another language.

       What about adult learners? Adult learners have their own advantages when it comes to language learning. Adult learners bring a greater degree of patience, more developed logical thinking skills, and a clearer sense of motivation for learning. It’s never too late to start learning a language, so if you’re thinking about learning a language, right now is the best time!

      When studying a foreign language, it is helpful to have a good teacher who can demonstrate clear pronunciation and guide you through useful language and expressions. Teachers can present language in its natural context, give you much needed practice, and offer feedback on your mistakes so that you can continue to improve your language skills. In addition to these skills, a teacher can provide insight into their culture and ways of thinking. Moreover, learning about other languages and cultures increases your awareness of your own. How fascinating it is to learn a foreign language.

     The teachers at Gunma Language Center and Language Academy meet once a week to improve our teaching methods by discussing ways we can more effectively  teach and utilize materials in the classroom.　 Please free to talk to our teachers and staff to find out more about how we can help you. Thank you

 

      Masakatsu Horiguchi

   Twenty years have passed since Gunma Language Center was founded on April 1, 1990. I would like to thank everyone who brought their children to GLC for language lessons, in addition to all the organizations that have requested foreign language instruction for their employees. The organizations, such as local government offices, private companies, and multinational groups, so far have totaled more than 150. We were encouraged by these organizations to expand our selection of languages offered and deliver quality language instruction.

    The word Gunma in Gunma Language Center meant Gunma Town at first, but it was our hope that it would eventually come to represent all of Gunma Prefecture. In the beginning, there were only two　teachers, five students, and five companies. Our living room was the school’s office.

    1990 marked the abrupt end to Japan’s economic boom in the ‘80s and the beginning of the lost decade. However, we managed to succeed during our first year. In 1991, due to increased nrollment, we constructed a small facility in our own private front yard that had two classrooms and a teachers’ room. In May 1994, the present-day building commonly referred to as GLC was constructed and everything was moved to that building. GLC was designed to resemble a house like those found in the suburbs of Boston where we often visited.
In April, 1997, Maebashi Language Academy and Shibukawa Language Academy were added. Simultaneously, we started to serve people from all of Gunma Prefecture and even parts of Saitama Prefecture. We also began to accommodate the demand for teaching other foreign languages, such as German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese, Koreans, Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese, and Arabic. Two main reasons for teaching foreign languages other than English were the Plaza Agreement in 1985 and an increased interest in learning languages other than English. In the case of the Plaza Agreement, companies in Japan started to branch out overseas and their employees were sent to non-English speaking countries in addition to English speaking countries.

    From 2001 through 2010, the number of students fluctuated, but we adapted to the situation and continued to operate offering a wider range of services, not only teaching but also editing, translating, and dubbing. I believe internationalization and globalization will advance steadfast. Therefore, a good command of English, a foreign language, or foreign languages, as well as an understanding of different cultures, will continue to be a necessity for years to come. Our mission at GLC-LA is to help people reach their goals studying foreign languages and cultures. We hope to serve the community for another ten years or more with this vision at the forefront of our efforts. It is my sincere hope anyone who wishes to learn a foreign language will come visit GLC-LA.


  Masakatsu Horiguchi: The president of GLC-LA